Hopes that America’s factories will help drive the economic recovery gained support Monday from news that manufacturing activity grew in January to its strongest point since 2004.

Other reports Monday offered a reminder that the recovery remains fragile.

Construction spending sank in December to its lowest level in more than six years. And gains in personal income and spending were too modest in December to suggest that consumers can fuel a strong rebound.

“Right now we’re getting a recovery,” said Michael Gregory of BMO Capital Markets. “But you have to be skeptical. This kind of performance cannot be sustained unless we get those other areas that are still weak in the economy to contribute to growth – housing, construction, real consumer spending.”

Manufacturing activity has become a pocket of strength, though some of it flows from temporary factors such as customers needing to add to depleted stockpiles of goods.

As their customers try to restock their shelves, manufacturers need to ramp up production to match their demands. That could mean hiring more workers, which would help the economic rebound.

“Production growth is finally beginning to tax existing work forces to the point where companies need to expand employment, and, critically, have enough confidence to do so,” said Pierre Ellis of Decision Economics.

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